Chapter Nineteen:
The Trip
"Egypt?" asked Harry.
This was quite a surprise. Harry had always wanted to go, but he had never dreamed that he would ever manage it. Ron had told him wonderful things about it and Harry couldn't wait to visit the mysterious country.
"Yes, Egypt! Is that acceptable?" replied Mr. Weasley.
"Oh yes!" exclaimed Harry with a smile on his face, "Thank you very much!"
"You're most welcome," stated Mr. Weasley.
Harry was just about to return to the festivities when he remembered to ask something,
"When are we leaving?"
"First thing tomorrow," answered Mr. Weasley, "Otherwise you wouldn't have time for a proper vacation."
"Oh, thank you Mr. Weasley!" thanked Harry running his fingers through his hair, "Who is coming with me?"
"You will have quite a guard. Remus, Madam Agapanthus, Bill, Tonks, Mad-Eye, and… uh…even Gilderoy Lockhart will be accompanying you," answered Mr. Weasley, "Not to mention Ron and Hermione."
"Lockhart?" choked Harry.
"I'm afraid so," replied Mr. Weasley.
"Well, I suppose it could be worse… Snape could be coming with me…" stated Harry, "Why is he here anyway?"
"Well, he is coming with you," stated Mr. Weasley stroking his chin.
Harry didn't want to think about the implications that went with that statement. After thanking Mr. Weasley again, Harry found Ron and Hermione and told them of their journey (This took quite a long time for Lockhart was having a dance-off with himself to Christmas carols and kept careening into them.). Ron who suspiciously didn't look too surprised said,
"You'll love it Harry. We can look at all the pyramids that Muggles don't know about. I can't believe they think that the Pyramid at Giza is the largest one!"
"Yes!" exclaimed Hermione, "I've always been dying to go there. There are heaps of pyramids and tombs for the Pharaoh's High Priests and Magicians! We can also visit the library at Alexandria."
"That's a good idea. I think Bill is one of the curators for the wizard section of the library during his free time. He can give us a grand tour," stated Ron almost as excited now as Hermione.
"Well, I'm going to go see if Bill is over his haircut yet," said Hermione walking away from Harry and Ron.
After Hermione was well out of earshot Harry chuckled, "I think Hermione's gotten to you Ron. You were pretty excited about going to a library."
Ron and Harry burst into laughter and it was during this exchange that Harry noticed an electric pink light on Ron's finger.
"What's that?" asked Harry.
On closer inspection Harry noticed that it was a signet ring of some sort.
After realizing what Harry was talking about Ron answered sheepishly, "It's my present from Hermione."
"What does it do?" asked Harry knowing that it was Hermione they were talking about, and he simply couldn't imagine her not giving some interesting trinket to Ron.
"It glows pink whenever I'm thinking of her…" replied Ron.
"Well… that's interesting," snorted Harry.
"And… it turns scarlet if I'm thinking of another girl," finished Ron with a scowl.
Harry snickered at this when Mrs. Weasley entered the room and said, "Everyone to the Dining Room!"
Harry and Ron found Hermione and they entered the Dining Room where the entire congregation was now entering.
The new Dining Room was in the annex that had been built off the kitchen. The multiple chairs and tables, which were cherry, stood over a beautiful mahogany floor. The scene was quite festive. The tables were bedecked with shiny red tablecloths and fine-polished golden candelabras with candles that showered red and green sparks in an incredibly large radius. The major source of light came from an immense orb draped with holly hanging from the ceiling.
After staring at the orb for a while Harry noticed that there were several tiny orbs of light flickering within the larger one and they were moving.
"Oh look!" exclaimed Hermione, "A pixie lamp, fascinating!"
"What?" asked Harry.
"Basically there are a bunch of pixies in the orb that produce all the light," answered Ron for Hermione.
"Yes, not only that but they also seemed to be Saxon Pixies, only that species generates yellow light," added Hermione.
Ron's increasing store of knowledge and his willingness to share what was on his mind was beginning to amaze Harry. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat down next to each other at the table farthest on the right along with Tonks, McGonagall and Bill.
"Good morning," greeted all three to Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Good morning," replied Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
After everyone had seated themselves at a table Mr. Weasley stood up and everyone immediately fell silent,
"Happy Christmas all. It is a great honor to receive such a prestigious title as Minister of Magic, but it is an even greater honor to be amongst such a group of incredible people. Now that all the formalities have been said, I would like to address one more thing. Let us raise a glass to a journey that is going to begin tomorrow! Let us toast to Harry Potter's journey to the sands of Egypt! May his search prove rewarding!"
Everyone cheered and drank their raised glasses. Gilderoy Lockhart, who was sitting at the table next to Harry, said to Lupin, Agapanthus, and Snape, who were sitting at the table with him,
"I've been to Egypt! It was there that I vanquished the Great Mummy! Or did I vanquish the Great Mummy? Can't remember for the life of me…"
Harry saw Lupin shake his head, Agapanthus remained still, and Snape grimaced and appeared to just stop himself from flicking his wand and shattering Lockhart into several painfully crafted pieces in response. Harry chuckled and returned to the food that had materialized at his own table.
Steaming dishes of all sorts had appeared and Harry was more than happy to help himself to it. There were great legs of goose and heaps of roast pork. The best part of it all was that inside Harry's goblet was a green fizzy liquid that tasted surprisingly like hot chocolate and it never emptied!
"Did you get my present Harry?" asked Tonks whose hair was obviously intended to be a festive swirl of green and red, but then again, it was a little frightening for it was reminiscent in shape to the hair of the bride of Frankenstein.
"Yes, thank you! Frankly, I didn't know I had it in me to be an Animagus or even a Metamorphamagus," replied Harry.
Hermione and Ron gave Harry surprised looks but quickly returned to the excellent food that had been prepared by none other than Mrs. Weasley.
"You said something about me having to sign up for electives?" asked Harry taking a bite of his food.
"Yes, it's a new system that Dumbledore has started. Sixth years have to take their Apparition Education classes on Saturdays when they return from school after Christmas Holiday, but now you can take all sorts of classes as well," answered Tonks.
"You would be well to take the Pre-Auror Training class; I'll be teaching that," stated Moody.
"I'll be sure to remember that," stated Harry.
"Can you please tell me more about this elective system?" asked Hermione.
"I don't see why not Miss Granger," began McGonagall, "You see on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you will have an extra class. During break you are asked to select three classes and they will be fit into your schedule in the most suitable manner."
Looking excited now Hermione asked, "And what sorts of classes are provided?"
"Oh, all kinds of interesting choices are available," answered McGonagall, "You will be given the opportunity to select the class that will best prepare you for your future career."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked avidly for the rest of the dinner about their classes and even when everyone that wasn't going to Egypt the next day had left, they were still talking about it. Harry attention finally drifted. He couldn't help noticing how Ron's hand was clamped around Hermione's, Ron's ring was twinkling a pleasant pink… Harry glanced around the room noting the warmth and contented glow of happy couples scattered about. He sighed missing Sirius, and …well Family. He was not really jealous he convinced himself yet a dull melancholy ache was drifting over him. Fortunately, he was snapped out of his reverie by the fluttering arrival of Hedwig, Gawaine, and Pigwideon.
"I wonder what the owls are doing here?" asked Hermione, severing eye contact with Ron.
As if to answer her question each owl dropped a letter at their respective owner and as soon as they had come in, they flew out. Ron took one look at the letter on his lap and exclaimed,
"These must be our Elective Course Sign-Ups!"
Harry nodded as enthusiastically as he could. Inside was a registration sheet and a tiny booklet containing all the different courses available. Harry looked at his registration form and noticed that his first elective choice had been filled out for him:
Potter, Harry James
Year: 6
House: Gryffindor
Course Name Course # Professor Location
1. Apparition Education 013 Flitwick Hogsmeade
2.
3.
Parent/Guardian House Approval
Harry silently laughed to himself when he realized that it was Flitwick who was teaching the Apparition Ed. Class. Harry had a mental picture of Flitwick apparating from his tower of books to the middle of a pond.
Harry was glad he had already made his choices as to which classes he would be taking. There was such a myriad of choices that Harry was sure Hermione was frustrated with the fact that she could only pick two other classes.
Each course came with a picture of the professor, an explanation and history of the course, and any course materials that might be needed. Harry was going to need a book entitled A Short Compendium of Apparition Laws and Regulations by: Vera Dull and An Introduction to Aurism by: Romulus Lupin.
Romulus Lupin? Harry thought to himself, Is he related to Remus?
"Ron, Hermione, take a look at this," said Harry.
When both Ron and Hermione had taken a look at Harry's course list Hermione said, "Oh yes, he was a very famous Auror. Sadly he was killed by a wild beast of some sort… the book didn't go into too much detail about that. As to your question about his kinship to Remus, I don't know."
"I wouldn't think about it Harry. Just a coincidence that they had the same last name, huh?" stated Ron.
Harry agreed and decided not to worry about it. Finally forcing himself to think of something else he asked, "So what are you two taking?"
"I'm taking Spell-Weaving and Magical Theory," answered Hermione, "I plan to be a Spell-Breaker for the Ministry."
Harry was dumbfounded by this. Harry hadn't the slightest notion as to what these things were but they sounded like the most complicated things Harry had ever heard of,
"And what does a Spell-Breaker do?"
"Well, that's where Spell-Weaving comes in. New spells are created by 'weaving' magical energy together. Sometimes Dark Wizards will create curses that the Ministry will have no experience with and Spell-Breakers 'un-weave' the spell," answered Hermione very intelligently.
That's it, Harry thought, The most complicated of careers of course will go to Hermione.
"And what about you Ron?" asked Harry.
"Me? I'm not as sure as you two yet. I need time to think," answered Ron with a tinge of embarrassment.
"Well, I think we should turn in," said Harry for amazingly, the day had zoomed by.
"That's a great idea," replied Ron and getting up he said, "Good night Harry. Good night Hermione."
"Night," said Harry and Hermione at the same time.
"I'm going to bed too," stated Hermione.
When Hermione had left Harry finally decided to make his way to his bedroom too, but before he climbed up into the friendly furnace of red that was Ron's room. Harry glanced around and sighed again. Some day, he promised silently, he too would have family around him during Christmas. Harry could hardly wait for his journey to Egypt.
When Harry awoke he found that Ron had already packed his own trunk was now busily packing Harry's.
"Thanks Ron," said Harry, "You didn't have to do that."
"It's my pleasure," replied Ron, "I can't wait to go to Egypt either."
Harry smiled and made himself get out of bed. After rubbing his eyes, Harry dressed and helped Ron pack the rest of his trunk.
"Oh you wait Harry. There are lots of things to do in Egypt. We can probably go see a Scarab's game. They're doing pretty well this year," stated Ron.
Harry was honestly very excited and he couldn't wait to go. However, a single question was lingering inside his head,
"How are we getting there? Floo? Portkey?"
"Oh no," answered Ron, "The Floo and Portkey Network are only in Britain."
"So how are we getting there?" persisted Harry.
"The Art Museum," replied Ron, "When you travel internationally, you go through paintings."
Before Harry could further inquire, Mrs. Weasley's voice rang throughout hallway,
"Hurry up boys or we won't beat the Muggle traffic to the Museum."
Harry quickly closed his trunk and clambered down the stairs followed by Ron. When the two of them reached the first landing they met Hermione and the moment Ron's eyes glimpsed her, his ring began to glow a tell-tale pink.
Hermione giggled and said, "I'm glad to see that it works."
Ron grinned sheepishly and the three continued down the stairs. When they reached the bottom Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Fred and George talking with Mr. Weasley. When they had finished their conversation, Harry went up to them and asked,
"What's going on?"
"Dad just asked us if we would be interested in working for the Ministry," replied George excitedly.
Harry couldn't see what he was so excited about. Earlier, both Fred and George decided that the Ministry was not the place for them to pursue their career. So Harry, confused, plunged ahead asking.
"I thought you didn't want to work at the Ministry."
Fred replied with, "That was before Dad told us about this. He's decided to make a new R&D Department!"
"And we never thought that there was a place for us in the Ministry," added George.
Harry laughed. The idea of Fred and George working for the Ministry was interesting indeed. It wasn't until both Fred and George were called away by Mrs. Weasley that Harry told the news to Ron and Hermione. Both were exasperated,
"Them?! That's preposterous!" wailed Hermione caught between amusement and anxiety.
Ron was openly excited, "It's going to be a whole new Ministry with Dad as Minister and the likes of Fred and George."
"That's true," agreed Harry laughing.
"Harry dear! Ron, Hermione! Hurry now!" beckoned Mrs. Weasley jovially jingling her car keys.
"I think I'm going to throw up before going into the painting this time," moaned Ron.
"What?" asked Harry as all three made their way nervously to the car.
"When I travel by painting I get sick. Last time we traveled to Egypt I threw up on Mona Lisa when we changed portraits in France," reminisced Ron with a wry smile.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione both entered the spacious, red mini to find Mr. Weasley already sitting there.
"Molly is driving us to Museum, so… um… no one ate anything right?"
Harry laughed and stopped just as quickly when Mrs. Weasley entered the car. Harry and Ron exchanged quick, frightened looks as Mrs. Weasley shifted the car in reverse, shot out of the dirt driveway, knocked over the weather vane, and continued down the road.
As Harry sat in the speeding, reckless car, Harry wondered if he would get sick like Ron, but he decided to not think about it or he would be ill right then and there. Harry listened intently to what Hermione was saying to force his mind into another gear,
"Yes, I can't wait to go to the library in Alexandria. We'll be able to find out all sorts of things about the MoonPearl Tear there. It's very fascinating that your brother is a curator at the library Ron. He'll know all sorts of interesting facts."
This reminded Harry of all the other people that were supposed to go with him and he asked Mr. Weasley,
"Where are Bill and the others?"
Mrs. Weasley made a rapid turn, knocking some old dear doddering on the corner off her feet.
Mr. Weasley looked back appalled, flicked his wand furtively over his shoulder and answered with,
"They'll all be meeting us there of course-"
Yes and the same to you!" snapped Mrs. Weasley to a young muggle who had just given her a very rude gesture.
Mrs. Weasley careened with casual familiarity into a parking lot, driving on the sidewalk momentarily, and found two shaded spots where she parked haphazardly.
Happily stepping out of the car, Harry began getting his trunk and things out of the back.
"Where to now?" asked Harry.
"Just follow me," replied Mr. Weasley, "Love you Molly!"
"I love you too Arthur. Be careful on your trip," shouted Mrs. Weasley as she waved cheerily and rocketed away.
"Well, I'm glad to be out of that car," stated Hermione brushing some hair away from her face.
"Me too," agreed Ron.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Mr. Weasley down the crowded street, they got many looks and stares for carrying trunks and bags no where near any airport or train station.
Harry ignored this and climbed the steps into the British Art Museum.
"Mr. Weasley? Won't people find it a bit odd that we're carrying luggage in the museum? What about security?" asked Hermione already spotting a group of muggle Germans giving them cold stares.
"No… well… maybe, but don't fret. If anyone asks why you're carrying luggage, just say something in gibberish to them, keep going, and they'll be on their way," replied Mr. Weasley, "I've attached a confusion charm to the bags."
Harry and Ron laughed aloud while Hermione gave them a shocked look.
It was strange to see so many still pictures. Recently he had been surrounded by pictures that were full of life. This reminded Harry of Sirius who he carried in a canvas under his arm.
"Hey, what you got in those bags chum?" asked a portly uniformed man smoking a cigar in the corner.
"Happy Valentine's Day! Don't forget to get the candy for all the little buggers tonight!" replied Mr. Weasley in a feverish voice striding along.
This caused the man and several other interested bystanders to find pictures to admire.
All three laughed as Mr. Weasley put on a slightly mad smile.
They finally reached a nearly deserted wing of the Museum where they found Bill, Agapanthus, Moody, McGonagall, Tonks, Lupin, Snape, and Lockhart standing by a picture of a pyramid. Not a pyramid of Egypt, but the glass pyramid that stood in front of the Louvre in France.
"We have to change portraits in France again," stated Mr. Weasley much to the dismay of Ron.
"So can no muggle enter this wing of the museum?" asked Hermione.
"That's right, this is the part of the museum where we travel," answered Lupin looking around the room at the other portraits.
Harry did the same to find all sorts of majestic scenes from around the world. There was the Great Wall of China, The Grand Canyon, and even snow-capped summit in the Himalayas.
"Right then, let's get going shall we?" said Mr. Weasley rubbing his hands together.
Mr. Weasley tapped his wand on the painting and with a flash of light a woman in navy blue robes appeared,
"Hello, thank you for choosing the British Art Museum. Allow me to send your luggage."
The woman took out her wand and tapped Harry's trunk. It shone for a moment and vanished. After she had done this to everyone's trunk the woman continued,
"To make this trip as convenient as possible we ask that you refrain from movement as much as possible as well as eating. Now we ask all of you to relax and join hands. Your trip will begin shortly. Have a safe journey and once again thank you for choosing the British Art Museum."
Harry joined hands with Ron and Hermione as the woman vanished. After a moment Harry began to notice that the painting of the glass pyramid was growing. In a moment the picture looked like the real thing and Harry found that he was beginning to spin, as was everyone else. Soon Harry was off his feet and flying towards the glass pyramid.
Harry shut his eyes and when he opened them he found that he was flying amongst the paintings of the Louvre and when they came to the Mona Lisa, Ron vomited, but apparently having remembered Ron, the Mona Lisa ducked just in time.
Harry shut his eyes again and when he reopened them, he was standing next to a tree with his trunk sitting right in front of him. Ron and Lockhart immediately broke out of the circle and threw up over some bushes a little ways away.
When they were finished Mr. Weasley said, "Well… now we go through here straight to Egyptian House of Art in Alexandria."
Ron trudged along as everyone followed Mr. Weasley through the hordes of people. When they made their way into the Louvre they passed the Mona Lisa (who Harry was sure gave Ron a cold stare) and they entered the anti-muggle wing.
Mr. Weasley tapped a picture of a watering hole near an ancient looking building and a woman similar in appearance to Agapanthus in yellow robes appeared. She sent their luggage and soon they all were flying again into Egypt.
This time when Harry opened his eyes he found vast amounts of people still and also a large amount of sand, it was everywhere.
"Alright everyone, my turn, follow me to my home," stated Bill still gingerly rubbing the spot where his ponytail had been.
Harry smiled as everyone followed Bill. Wizard Egypt seemed to be very interesting. There were merchants selling all sorts of cursed items and dismembered body parts.
"Oh! A cursed hand!" exclaimed Ron who rushed over to try and buy one, but from a stern look from Mr. Weasley and Hermione, he didn't.
"They sure have progressed haven't they?" asked Lockhart with a smile as a group of Egyptian wizards danced some sort of magical dance.
"I expect it has changed a lot since the time when you slayed the Great Mummy, eh?" replied Lupin with the twitch of a smile on his lips.
Lockhart didn't hear this, or if he did, he didn't react to it, while Agapanthus smiled knowingly.
"Oh, shite!" cursed Moody.
Harry turned around to see that Moody's magical eye had fallen out and was rolling away.
"Accio!" exclaimed Hermione pointing her wand at the run away eye.
The eye flew thought the air and went straight into Hermione's outstretched hand. She handed it straight to Moody who said,
"Thank you, miss."
Finally they reached a large stone building. Harry suspected that this was Bill's home and he was proven right when Bill took out a large key and opened the front door.
Inside awaited the wide eyes of Harry. The inside building was made entirely of marble and the sound of the door closing echoed across the corridor. Harry saw what he could tell were priceless artifacts on every wall.
Again, Harry was proven right for Hermione immediately ran up to them and exclaimed, "That's the Shaft of Osiris!"
"Very good," replied, not Bill, but Agapanthus, "Would you be so kind as to tell us what it does?"
"Well… legend says that it made people immortal, but when you translate it correctly what it really did was prepare people for immortality. It was used in the final stage of mummification. The improper translation caused quite a few adventurers to throw away their lives, wizards and muggles alike," answered Hermione while staring at the golden rod.
"Impressive," was all Agapanthus had to say.
"Everybody, make yourselves at home and find yourselves room. There is enough for everyone," stated Bill.
Harry slowly climbed the stairs, looking at all the wonderful and interesting things that Bill had in his home. Harry finally found a room he cared for. It was circular and had a large window overlooking an oasis.
Harry took Sirius out and put him on his nightstand.
"Are we there already?" asked Sirius taking a look around.
"We are," answered Harry and as Harry thought, he realized that he was going to have a great time.